Oldham Coliseum set to return with biggest production since closure of iconic former theatre
Oldham Coliseum is staging its largest production since the closure of its iconic Fairbottom Street venue, with a new immersive show titled 'The Engagement Party' at Queen Elizabeth Hall. The play, written by Afshan D’souza-Lodhi and directed by Amanda Huxtable, features a love story set in Oldham, live music, and interactive cabaret-style seating. It aims to celebrate community and resilience during challenging times.
Oldham Coliseum mounts its largest production since the Fairbottom Street theatre shut its doors, commandeering the Queen Elizabeth Hall next month for a cabaret-style love story that plants audiences at the heart of the action.
“The Engagement Party”, a new play by Afshan D’souza-Lodhi, follows lovers Zack (Connor Darren-James) and Sofia (Marucia Ferreira) whose tardy arrival at their own celebration sparks friction between their two families. Amanda Huxtable, directing the piece, said the show “unfolds around” ticket-holders seated at tables, unsure whether their neighbour is another theatregoer or a member of the 20-strong North-West cast.
Live music comes from Oldham’s United Orchestra, while the script nods to the town itself - the central romance reportedly began in a local chicken shop. Huxtable promised “a perfect mix of Coronation Street and Britain’s Got Talent” and added: “It can be tough out there in the world at the moment, so I hope this production will help us all celebrate each other.”
Seven performances run 18-22 February 2025, with tickets from £10 on a Pay What You Choose basis; one in five seats is being gifted to community groups. The show marks the Coliseum’s most ambitious project since the council pledged to rescue the mothballed venue following a grassroots campaign, using pop-up events to “keep the spirit of the theatre alive” while renovation work continues.
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